HEARTSICK

Detective Archie Sheridan maintains a relationship with serial killer Gretchen Lowell, whom he sent to prison, but not before she tortured and nearly killed him. Now he joins a task force that is looking for a new serial killer in Portland, Oregon. Flashbacks to Archie's suffering at the hands of Lowell wrap the two sadistic killers together in a horrifying package. Carolyn McCormick's narration contrasts the brutality of the killers with their otherwise general ordinariness. She also accentuates the tension in the complex relationship between Lowell and Archie, and its impact on his relationships with the other characters. McCormick's skillful control of the suspense is gripping. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]